Tubular-magazine repeating firearm



Feb.. M, i939. H. L cRocKETT TUBULAR MAGAZINE REPEA'TTNG FTRARM Filed July' 19, 1937' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 14h40/wey;

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TUBULAR MAGAZINE REPEATTNG FTREARM Filed July 19, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 MGR@ fd @u W 0 W @fw W m n@ QN A a @www Q@ iw Q l w mw Q .2 m L ..1\ S Q wm WW il... MS m w \m///////////// Xbv/ L k\\\\ .ml s Q m \\\N EPI. R bw N@ 7 Qn n@ Peb. m, w39. H L CRO-@KUT 2,146,941

TUBULAR MAGAZINE REPEATING FIREARM Filed July 19, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @amm Patented Feb., i4, 93@

attesti tslitlddli TUBULAR-TVEAGZDIE REIPEATENG mmm A(application July i9, 1937, Serial No. ldd

3 Claims.

rlhis invention relates to an improvement in repeating firearms, and particularly to repeating firearms of the tubular-magazine type.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a tubular-magazine repeating inearm having superior means for transferring cartridges from the tubular-magazine to a position for introduction into the cartridge-chamber ci the firearm.

.A :further object is to provide a repeating rearms having superior means whereby cartridges may be transferred from the tubularmagazine to a position for introduction into the cartridge-chamber without causing such inter ference between succeeding cartridges as would cause a jam.

Another object of' the present invention.is to provide superior cartridge-elevating means whereby one cartridge may under-ride another cartridge without blocking the upper cartridge against being fed into the cartridge-chamber of the Idrearrn.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art irorn'the present disclosure, this invention includes all :features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed by me in a separate application.

in the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

illustrating the positions which the part-s assume after the firearm has been discharged and the breech-bolt has been fully retracted;

Fig. 5 is a View corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4, save that the parts are shown in the positions which they assume when the breech-bolt is about midway of its forward travel;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing two cartridges located in the magazinethroat:

Fig. 'I is a transverse sectional view taken on 4the line l-l of Fizz. 3,:v

Edie cartridge-carrying or elevating mechanism of the present invention is suitable for use in various firearm structures, hut the particular tubular-magazine rearm herein chosen for illustration is oi the so-called upturmand-pullhaclr {ooit-action type. The said rearrn includes a receiver to or' tubular form into the forward end of 'which the rear end o e. barrel 2i is threaded. The receiver 2d is also provided with an axial bolt-receiving passage 22 which is also coaxial with the cartridge-chamber 23 in the rear portion of the barrel 2i. The toi-ward portion of the holt-receiving passage 22, just referred to, is intersect/ed laterally by a ioading-and-ejection opening Mounted in the bolt-receiving passage 22 of the receiver 2Q, with capacity for reciprocation therein, is a cylindrical breech-colt 25 formed in its interior with an axial firing-plunger passage' 26. intersecting the forward end of the passage 25 is a relatively-small eccentric firing-point passage 2'l through which is projectable the dringpoint 2d located at the forward end of a ring plunger 29, which latter is located in the passage or guide-way 2t in the bolt 2e, with capacity for reciprocation therein.

The rear portion 25a of the breech-bolt 25 is reduced in diameter to provideI a. smooth cylindrical exterior surface upon which turns a. holt-operating sleeve f3@ having a, laterally-osettinr handle 3l terminating in a, ball-grip 32. To retain the boit-operating sleeve 3@ in place upon the reduced rear portion 25a of the bolt 25, a retaining-sleeve 33 is mounted upon the said portion 25a and in turn is secured in-place by a retaining-pin @t extending diametrically through the said retaining-sleeve 33, the portion 25a, and through an end-plug 35 installed ln the open rear end of the said portion 25a, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

'Fitted within the rear portion of the passage or guide-way 2S in the reduced rear portion 25a of the breech-bolt 25 and seated at its rear end against the end-plug 35 therein, is a helical firingspring 36 which bears at its forward end against the rear end of the ming-plunger 29, before referred to. The main portion of the :tiring-plunggli -64 of a detent-plunger 65.

.cam-slot 42 formed in the bolt-operating sleeve 3D, before referred to.

The firing-plunger 29 is also formed in its under-portion with a forwardly-facing cockingshoulder 43 which is adapted to be engaged by a rearwardly-facing cooking-shoulder 44 formed upon the substantially-horizontal Sear-arm 45 of a sear-and-trigger unit generally designated by the reference character 46. The said scar-andtrigger unit 46 also includes, in addition to the said Sear-arm 45, a substantially-vertical triggerarm 41 terminating at its lower end in a curved trigger or finger-piece 48. The Sear-arm 45 and the trigger-arm 41 of the sear-and-trigger unit 46, above referred to, together form a substantially L-shaped figure which is provided adjacent its apex with a mounting-ear 49 having a transverse bearing-opening 50 therethrough. The mounting-ear 49 of the sear-and-trigger unit 46 receives a pivot-pin 5| which is mounted in a bracket 52 which is of Wedge-shaped form in end elevation and has its upper portion firmly driven into a transverse dovetail notch 53 formed in the under-side of the receiver 20 immediately adjacent the rear end thereof.

Formed in each of the respective opposite sides of the sear-and-trigger unit 46 is a guide-groove 55 extending parallel with the scar-arm 45 and having its upper wall in the same plane as the under-side or face of the said Sear-arm 45. Arranged directly beneath the Sear-arm 45 of the said unit 46 is a sheet-metal safety-slide, generally designated by the reference character 56. The rear end of the said safety-slide is notched to form two-guide-ngers 58-58, the inner edge portions of which ride in the guide-grooves 55-55 before described in the Sear-and-trigger unit 46.

The forward portion of the safety-slide 5` supported and guided for reciprocation beneatn the sear-arm 45 by a guide-screw 59 which extends through a longitudinal slot 60 in the said safety-slide andinto a threaded bore 6| in the Sear-arm 45. Immediately forward of the slot 60, the safety-slide 56 is formed with two conical detent-pockets 62 and 63 which alternately register with and receive the conical detent-nose The said detentplunger 65 is mounted for reciprocation in a downwardly-opening pocket 66 formed in the forward portion of the Sear-.arm 45 and opening through the under-side thereof. The said detent-plunger 65 is yieldingly urged downwardly into engagement with eithervone or the other of the two detent-pockets 62 or 63 by a helical spring 61 which is also located in the pocket 66 referred to.

The safety-slide 56, and hence the Sear-arm 45, is urged upwardly by the tension of the rearwardly-extending compiemental arms 68--68 of a spring, which is generally designated by the reference character 69, and which will be described more in detail hereinafter. To prevent the arms 68-68 of the spring 69 from spreading unduly, the safety-slide 56 is formed on each of its respective opposite sides, adjacent its forward end, with a retaining-finger 10.

The right rearwardly-projecting arm 58 of the safety-slide 56 is formed with a substantiallyrectangular coupling-opening 1| which receives the depending coupling-finger 12 of a sheetmetal operating-lever, generally designated by the reference character 13 (Figs. 1 and 2). The operating-lever 13, just referred to, rocks upon the projecting right lencl of the pivot-pin 5| upon which the sear-and-trigger unit 46 is pivotally hung. The operating-lever 13 is also formed with an upwardly-extending and slightly outwardly-bowed operating-arm 14 which is bent outwardly at its upper end to provide a. finger-piece 15 having a serrated upper surface. The operating-lever 13 is further formed, as is particularly well shown in Fig. l, with an upwardly-projecting locking-iinger 16 which is adapted on occasion to be swung upwardly into position to be engaged by a locking-abutment 11 (Fig. 1) formed in the exterior surface of the bolt-operating sleeve 30.

Extending beneath the barrel 2| in substantial parallelism therewith is an outer magazine-tube 18, the upper rear portion of which is accommodated in a longitudinal groove 19 formed in the under-face of the forward portion of the receiver 20.

The tubular-magazine of which the outer magazine-tube 18 forms a feature may be made of any approved construction common in the art, and as shown, includes an inner magazine-tube 86 in which is housed a. spring 8| which rearwardly urges a follower 82. Projecting into the open rear end of the outer magazine-tube 18 is the tubular stem 83 of a magazine-throat formed of sheet-metal and designated as a whole by the reference character 84. The said magazinethroat is formed with a pair of laterally-spacedapart upwardly-extending side-panels 85-85I which extend upwardly into the interior of the receiver 20 through a longitudinal passage 86 formed in the bottom wall 'of the said receiver. Each of the side-panels 85 is formed with a longitudinal slot 81 respectively receiving one of the opposed cartridge-checking fingers 88--88 of a substantially U-shaped cartridge-retainer formed of spring metal and generally designated by the reference character 89. The rear portion of the bottom wall of the elastic cartridgeretainer 89 is formed with a clearance-notch or passage 96 for the purpose as will hereinafter appear. Immediately to the rear of the sidepanels 85-85,. the magazine-throat 84 has its opposite ,walls curved-inwardly to provide opposed cartridge-stop fingers 9| and 92.

The forward portion of the magazine-throat 84 is supported by having its tubular stem 83 extended within the rear end of the outer magazine-tube 18, before described, and its rear portion is rigidly supported in the firearm structure by a transverse pin 93 which extends through perforations in the respective cartridge-stop fini gers 9| and 92 and is supported at its respective opposite ends in the receiver 20. The magazinethroat 84 is also formed with a pair of rearwardlsf-projecting laterally-spaced-apart arms .M -94 between which extends. for rocking movement, a cartridge-carrier or elevator which is of substantially L-shaped form and which is generally designated by the reference character About midway oi its height, the cartridge-cleformed with a depending U-shaped arm vator 95 is provided with a transverse bearingopening 96 through which extends a pivot-pin 91 which also extends through perforations 98, one of which is formed in each of the two rearwardly-extending arms 90. The respective opposite ends of the pivot-pin 91 project laterally beyond the magazine-throat 09 to a degree sufcient to support the complemental coils or loops 99 which are formed in the spring 69,'before ref ferred to, so as to in effect constitute a trunnion for the said spring. The spring 59 is which joins its complemental coils or loops 99 and which engages with the rear face of the lower portion of the cartridge-elevator 95 to yieldingly urge the same in a counterclockwise direction around the pivot-pin 91. As thus constructed and arranged, the spring 59 discharges the dual function of turning .the cartridge-elevator 95 and alsolifting the sear-arrn 135 of the sear-and-trigger unit 96.

The upper rear portion of the cartridge-elevator 95 is formed with a clearance-notch |0| designed to clear the forward portion of the seararm 95 when occasion requires,.as is especially well shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Projecting laterally from each of the respective opposite sides of the .upper terminal of the cartridge-elevator 95 is an operating-lug |02, both of which lugs |02-|02 are adapted to be engaged for rocking said cartridge-elevator by a forwardly-facing depressingshoulder |03 and a rearwardly-facing liftingshoulder |09, both of which are formed in the breech-bolt 25.

'I'he forward edge |05 of the substantially-horizontal leg of the cartridgeelevator 95 is curved concentrically with respect to the pivot-pin 91 and constitutes a check for the column of cartridges in the tubular-magazine, in a manner as will more fully hereinafter appear. The cartridgeelevator 95 is formed with a longitudinal upwardly-opening pocket |06 which receives a tongue |01 hung upon a pivot-pin |08 carried by the cartridge-elevator 95 at a point remot'e from its own pivot-pin 91.

The tongue |01 carried by the cartridge-elevator .95 is urged upwardly by a helical spring |09 bearing against its under-side about midway of its length and seated in a spring-pocket H0 which opens upwardly and intersects the bottom Wall'of the pocket. |06 in the cartridge-elevator 95. To limit the upward swinging movement of the rear end of the tongue |91 with respect to the cartridge-elevator 95 by which it is-carried, a pin-like stop-abutment is mounted in the cartridge-elevator 95 and extends across the upper rear portion of the pocket |96 therein.

For the purpose of checking the rearward movement of cartridges as they emerge from the tubular-magazine when the forward upper corner of the cartridge-elevator is substantially fully depressed, the magazine-throat 99 is provided in each of its respective opposite side-walls .with a bent-in cartridge-stop-abutment 2, which actturn is urged rearwardly by the spring-pressed follower 82.

Now, when the trigger 48 is pulled, the cartridge A will be fired, whereupon the next operation in the normal functioning of thef'lrearm is for the operator to lift the bolt-handle 3| and retract the breech-bolt 25 into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4. In this manner, the now-fired cartridge A will have been ejected.

Near the completion of the rearward travel o the breech-bolt, as just above described, the lifting-shoulder |99 of the said breech-bolt will engage with the operating-lugs |02 of the cartridge-elevator 95 and will effect the positive counterclockwise swinging movement of the said cartridge-elevator to positively force the cartridge B upwardly between the laterally-yielding cartridge-checking fingers 89-89 of the U-shaped cartridge-retainer 89. The cartridge-elevator, under the urge of the spring 69, will continue to turn until the cartridge B is elevated to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, in which position its furtherupward movement is checked temporarily by the cartridge stop-fingers 9| and 92.

The operator of the firearm now forces the breech-bolt 25 forwardly by means of the operating-handle 3|, with the effect of engaging the lower portion of the front face of the said breechbolt with the rear face of the cartridge B. The continued movement o'f the breech-bolt will in due course move the cartridge B out from under the cartridge stop-fingers 9| and 92, whereupon the tension ofthe spring 69 will serve to further elevate the said cartridge into substantial alignment with the cartridge-chamber 23, as shown in Fig. 5.

Ultimately, in the forward travel of the breechbolt, as 'above described, the depressing-shoulder |03 thereof will come into engagement with the operating-lugs |02 of the cartridge-elevator 95 and will swing the same in a clockwise direction against the tension of the spring B9. As the cartridge-elevator 95 is swung as described, its

forward upper corner will ultimately clear the lower edge of the cartridge C and thus permit the same to move rearwardly thereover into engagement with the cartridge-stop-abutments H2 of the magazine-throat 84. The cartridge C, as it moves rearwardly as described, as well as all other cartridges emerging from the tubular-magazine, will strike the sloping upper edge of the tongue |91 and will be yieldinglyurged upwardly thereby. A cycle of operation will now have been completed, preparatory to ring and retracting and again closing the breech-bolt 25 to effect the insertion of the cartridge C into the cartridgechamber 23.

It occasionally happens that a marksman, after partially retracting the breech-bolt, will deeide that he wishes to close the said breech-bolt without leaving a .cartridge in the cartridgechamber 23. Under these conditions, the marksman will insert his finger through the loadingand-ejection opening 29 of the receiver 29 and depress the cartridge which is in the upper part of the magazrlne-throat 99, so that'the breechbolt may override the said cartridge. Now, when the breech-bolt is closed, no cartridge will be inserted into the cartridge-chamber 23, but the closing action of the said breech-bolt will, of course, operate the cartridge-elevator 95, as before described, and will permit another cartridge to move from the magazine into the lower portion of the magazine-throat 99, so that two cart- "loA ridges will now be therein asis illustrated in Fig.; 6. The presence in the magazine-throat. of prior firearms of 'two cartridges at one time is very apt to cause a jam when attempt is made to operate the breech-bolt in the ordinary manner. For instance, with two cartridges positioned as they are shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the rim of the lower cartridge is interporsed in 'the path of forward movement of the rim of the upper cartridge, andk were it `not for lthe provision of the yielding tongue it?, the upper cartridge would be i'orestalled from ymoving forwardly by the under cartridgewhen the breech-bolt was next operf ated. However, with the construction shown,

'when the breech-bolt is operated to insertfthe uppermost cartridge into the cartridge-chamber 23, the lower cartridge will be cammeddownward- 1y by the rim of the upper cartridge. to permit f the said upper cartridge to override the under cartridge.l 'I'nisy camming action to free the upper cartridge for forward movement is permitted by the downwardly-yielding character of 'the tongue il which permits the lower cartridge to be depressed for the purpose just referred to.

Other conditions than that above described may lalso occasion a jam of cartridges in the magazinethroat, which conditions do not reduire Adetailed f cartridges in the magazine-throat or its equivalent.

The invention may be ycarried out in rother specific ways than those herein set forth witl'iout departing from the spirit-and essentialcharacterm istics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within themeaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim: f 1. A tabular-magazine repeating irearm including in combination: a barrel having a cartridge-chamber; a breech-bolt; a tubular-magazine located below the said barrel and the cartridge-chamber therein; a cartridge-elevator pivoted to the said iirearm structure in position to elevate cartridges from the said tubular-magazine into position to be inserted into the cartridge-chamber of the said barrel by the said breech-bolt, the said elevator being provided with a stop-abutment and'formed intermediate its respective opposite sides with a longitudinallyand-vertically-extending upwardly-opening cavity; a tongue pivoted tothe said cartridge-elevator at a point remote from the pivot-point thereof and having its free end pointing in the general direction of the pivot-point of the said cartridge- `elevator and engageable with the stop-abutment of the cartridge-elevator; and a spring carried by the said cartridge-elevator and pressing the free end of the said tongue toward the stop-abutment of the said cartridge-elevator.

2.'A tubular-magazine repeating firearm including in combination: a barrel having a cartridge-chamber; a breech-bolt; a tubular magazine located below the said barrel and the cartridge-chamber therein; a frame or receiver connected to the said barrel and carrying the said breech-bolt and provided with a vertical carcarried by the said cartridge-elevator, the saidy 1 cartridge-derlecting member being so positioned that when the said cartridge-elevator is in its rctiredposition, the cartridge-delecting member l.

will yieldingly upwardlydeect a second cartridge lentering the said vertical cartridge-delivery passager from the said magazine into engagement withan uppermost cartridge inV the said cartridgel delivery passage and permit the downward yieldingof the rim of the said lowermost cartridgeiny thesaid vertical cartridge-delivery passage to enable the rim. of the uppermost of said cartridges in the said passage to ride over the rim of the said lowermost cartridge and thus prevent themalfunctioning of the rearrn when two cartridges are simultaneously located in' the aforesaid yvertical cartridge-delivery passage.

ILA tubular-magazine repeating firearm including in combination: a barrel having a cartridge-chamber; a breech-bolt; aftubularmagazine located below the said barrel and the cartridge-chamber therein; a'frame or receiver connected tothe said barrel and carrying the said breech-boit and provided witha vertical cartridge-delivery passage extending'between the said magazine and the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel and of suiicient length in a vertical direction to simultaneously accommodate two cartridges below the said breech-bolt; a cartridgeelevator pivoted to the said frame or receiver in position to elevate cartridges through ythe said cartridge-delivery' passage from the said tubular magazine into position to be inserted into the cartridge-chamber of the said barrel by the said breech-bom' a cartridge-deecting tongue pivoted to the said cartridge-elevator at a point .remote from the pivot-point thereof and having its free end pointing in the general direction of the pivot-point of the said pivotal elevator; and springmeans yieldingly urging the free end of the said cartridge-deflecting tongue upwardly; the said cartridge-defiecting tongue being so positioned on the said cartridge-elevator that when the latter is in its retired position, the said cartridge-deiecting tongue will yieldingly deflect a second cartridge entering the said vertical cartridge-delivery pas- `sage upwardly into engagement with an uppermost cartridge in the said cartridge-delivery passage and will retire against the tension of the said spring-means to permit the downward yielding of the rim of the said lowermostcartridge in the said cartridge-delivery passage to enable the rim oi the uppermost of said cartridges in the said passage to ride over the rim of the said lowermost cartridge and thus prevent the malfunctioning of the firearm when two cartridges are simultaneously located in the aforesaid vertical cartridge-delivery passage.

HARRY L. CROCKE'I'T 

